Brief historical information about the State Library of the State Culture Center of Turkmenistan

 

The history of the State Library of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan dates back to the end of the 19th century.

On August 1, 1895, the Transcaspian Region Public Library with a collection of 3,000 books was opened and began to serve readers. The library consisted of a home delivery section (loan department) and a reading room (reading hall). Home lending was available for a fee.

In connection with the renaming of the Transcaspian region to the Turkmen region, the library received the official name of the Turkmen region public library. In 1921, it included subscriptions, a reading room, a drafting and bookkeeping department, and a national (later Oriental) literature department.

The establishment of the National Literature Department laid the foundation for the creation of a book treasury in the Turkmen language and for serving the local people with books. The beginning of the methodological work of the library also dates back to this period.

In 1923, the Central Library Soviet (Council) was created at the library, its mission was to discuss important issues of library work, generalize the experience of well-functioning libraries, and coordinate the work of all libraries in the city.

In 1933, a library science department was established in the library. The department began to serve as a methodological center for all libraries in Turkmenistan.

During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), the library reorganized its entire work taking into account the conditions of the war years. During these years, the library's working group expanded military-staff work in a number of military hospitals, military units and call points. Mobile libraries were created there, book exhibitions were organized, and audio readings and discussions were regularly held. During these years, many scientists, teachers, literary and artistic workers evacuated to Ashgabat (relocated from militarily dangerous places) continued their scientific work using the rich treasures of the library. In 1943-1945, the library sent about 10 thousand books to the territories of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus liberated from the German invaders.

The earthquake that occurred on the night of October 5-6, 1948, caused great damage to the library. As a result of the natural disaster, its building was completely destroyed, the book collection, the information system (catalogs and filing cabinets) and all equipment were left in ruins. The restoration of the first stage of the temporary building was completed in a short time, and in April 1949 the library began to serve readers again.

In the 1960s, the strengthening of the material and technical base of the library, the productive internal organizational economic activities, contribute to the improvement of the quality of service to the readers, the expansion of public affairs, question-and-answer and bibliographic activities, and methodological activities. In 1965, a total of ten departments operated in the librar:

1. service department;

2. department conducting question-and-answer and bibliographic work;

3. methodological department;

4. literature collection department;

5. department processing and cataloging publications;

6. department of oriental literature;

7. department of foreign literature;

8. department of book storage;

9. department of technical literature;

10. department of special treasures.

 

After our country gained independence in 1991, a new era began in the history of the library.

According to the decision No. 1073 adopted by the President of Turkmenistan on December 24, 1992, the library was granted the status of Nationality. In this regard, its mission, content, and priority areas of work were improved. The National Library of Turkmenistan is a sacred place for preserving the published cultural heritage of the Turkmen people.

In accordance with the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan No. 12981 “On improving the work of institutions under the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan” signed on April 25, 2013, the National Library of the Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy National Cultural Center was renamed the State Library of the State Cultural Center.

 

The treasury of the State Library consists of more than 5.6 million publications, and a total of 17 departments operate:

1. Department of creation of the national fund system, data collection, organization of the electronic database of the system and information exchange

2. Department of electronic book conversion

3. Scientific-methodical department

4. Department of repair and binding of publications

5. Technical supervision department

6. Department of collection of publications

7. Department of book depository

8. Department of patent technical literature

9. Service department

10. Department of interlibrary loan

11. Department of bibliography

12. Department of art

13. Department of rare publications

14. Department of agricultural literature

15. Department of literature in foreign languages

16. Department of cultural and mass affairs

17. Department of scientific information and questions and answers

Since 2016, the Integrated Electronic Library System (IELS) has been operating in central libraries under the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan.